Loyola, League of Women Voters discuss what works in NOLA public schools

The Loyola University New Orleans Institute for Quality and Equity in Education, along with the League of Women Voters, will hold an educational forum designed to identify positive steps and initiatives achieved by certain high-performing New Orleans public schools in efforts to replicate these accomplishments system-wide. The forum, “High Schools in New Orleans – What Works?,” will be held April 19 in Miller Hall, Room 114, from 7 – 9 p.m. The event is free and open to the public, with free parking available at the West Road Garage, located adjacent St. Charles Avenue.

The forum, moderated by Andre Perry, Ph.D., associate director of educational initiatives for the Institute for Quality and Equity in Education, will include Michael E. Booker, Ph.Ed., the principal of Lake Area New Technical Early College High School; Mary Laurie, lead administrator at O. Perry Walker College and Career Preparatory High School and Community Center; and Warren Easton Charter High School Principal Alexina Medley.

“We want to have an in-depth discussion on exactly how these schools have been successful in overcoming serious problems that have plagued our public school system for decades,” said Ann Meese, Ph.D., who serves as the education chair of the League of Women Voters. “We want these administrators to share their experiences on a variety of issues, including how to increase parental involvement, monitor and reward teacher performance and meet the needs of those failing academically or behaviorally.”

“The responsibility of rebuilding our entire New Orleans school system is a monumental task,” Perry said. “In order to be successful, we have to operate together and not be tied to just one way of educating our children. If something is working, we all need to know about it, talk about the pros and cons and at least be open to trying new approaches to education.”

For more information on attending the event, contact the Institute for Quality and Equity in Education at iqee@loyno.edu or 504-865-3883.

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